Acura - Porsche topped combined Daytona's sessions

IMSA

Nov 17

GTP and LMP2 entries had 3 more sessions during Sunday’s IMSA Sanctioned Test at Daytona, this time, together with GTD and GTD PRO cars. Session 4 saw Nico Pino setting the fastest lap of the day and second of combined GTP tests. The new BMW M Hybrid V8 dominated the night session still slower than both Acura and the three Porsche 963.

#93 Acura ARX-06 fastest

The Acura ARX-06 pair impressed in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship preseason testing from Daytona International Speedway this weekend, with the #60 and #93 Acura ARX-06 Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian combining to lead three of the five test sessions.

The #93 led on the first day of testing, with Nick Yelloly and Renger van der Zande splitting the fastest times in the two sessions between them. The pair were joined by reigning and four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou aboard the #93 ARX-06. Yelloly's session one time of 1:35.725 would prove to be the fastest time of the weekend in the GTP class. His teammate Renger van der Zande posted the third fastest lap of combined sessions in 1:36.142.

Nick Yelloly (#93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06): "Obviously a pretty good couple of days for us. It felt like we got through all of our test program and did a lot of learning to try and dial in our aero package and get a lot of stuff ready for the big race in January. I'm very happy with how the test went—and looking forward to have a little bit of time off. But, I'm even more excited to get back in the car in January. Heading into our second year with the program with Acura MSR and HRC US, we feel like we've done our learning and want to go out there and show what we can really do from the first race."

Two Porsche 963 second and third

Acura’s domination of the top of the time sheets during the first three sessions came to an end during session 4, as Nico Pino aboard #85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Porsche 963 did set a 1:36.015, second performance of both days.

Andlauer’s 1:36.143 set Friday was the second fastest lap of session 2 and fourth of combined sessions which puts his #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 in P3 overall.

📷© IMSA. #85 JDC-Miller Motorsports (left); #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport (right).

Acura #60 fourth

The #60 Acura MSR machine took the top spot in the first session of day two, with Colin Braun setting the fastest time of the drivers turning laps on that side of the garage—including his full-season teammate Tom Blomqvist and, making his GTP debut, AJ Allmendinger. The #60 Acura ARX-06 Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajania is 0.506 seconds from the top spot with a 1:36.231.

📷© IMSA. #60 Acura ARX-06 Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajania

AJ Allmendinger (#60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06): "It was great to get lots of laps and I was able to get more confidence with each session I ran. By the end of the test, I felt fairly comfortable in the car. I also had a lot of fun hanging with all my teammates, they're a great group. I'm really looking forward to getting to the Roar and the Rolex 24!" Source: Honda Racing News

#7 Porsche 963 fifth

Felipe Nasr round the top five in #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport with a 1:36.395 set during session 4.

Both BMW follow

BMW M Team WRT completed its first IMSA Sanctioned Test with the two BMW M Hybrid V8 finishing first and second in session 5 night test. Dries Vanthoor on board of redesigned #24 WRT BMW M Hybrid V8 topped the GTP class with a 1:36.770 while Marco Wittmann was second with a 1:36.697 in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8.